Moustache of Insanity goes to Vienna

I've been neglecting this blog for the last month or so. Reason? Well, to be honest, I just haven't felt like writing about anything. But, this morning I thought it was time to get back into it.

First, some tour stories. The band I'm in, Moustache of Insanity, went to Vienna last weekend to play a couple of shows.

We left London horribly early on Thursday morning, meaning we arrived in Vienna feeling like shit. We got to our hostel, had a nap, drank some beer, practised some songs and wrote a set list. I also realised that my keyboard was not doing that well after August's blood-soaked album launch party. Fake blood and keyboards just don't go that well together.

In the end it didn't really matter. My keyboard was probably the least of our problems that evening, the biggest one being a drunken audience member. I can't remember her name, but she decided it would be hilarious to keep grabbing the mic, dancing on the stage and just being weird. I suppose it was pretty funny, to a certain extent anyway. In the end it was just annoying. She seemed to prefer our faster songs. Or at least I assume she did. During the slower ones she kept shouting "This is conventional bullshit". Anyway, I guess she did manage to divert attention from our set and obvious lack of practise.

We made it through the set, feeling reasonably satisfied. It wasn't great, but far from the worst show we've done. And people seemed to like it. Even drunk girl, who assured us that if she hadn't liked it she would have left the gig early.

In the end it was a great night. We met loads of lovely people and drank loads of Austrian beer. We even sold some records. Success!

On Friday we went exploring. Highlight of the sightseeing was a shop called Elektro Popp, run by a man called Konrad Popp. How awesome is that?

We also saw a bunch of awesome graffiti and a levitating man.

The levitating man was slightly more impressive before we figured his trick out. Well, at least we assumed we knew what was going on.

On Friday evening we played in our friend Costa's living room. This was an awesome show, much more relaxed. It probably helped that there was no weird girl shouting abuse at us during songs.

Jad Fair Drew Me A Duck

And Bill got to play an axe! A real axe. AXE!

Another day, another hangover…and more sightseeing. On Saturday, we saw a flak tower, bought some records and Bill wore a rather colourful cardigan.

That's about it. Sunday was spent recovering and wandering around Vienna…again. It's a cool place. We had loads of fun and hopefully we'll be back.

Free download single and video from Moustache of Insanity

Here's a taster from the upcoming Moustache of Insanity album, which is released on 22nd August. Lynn Lowry is one of the songs on the album and the b-side, The Monkey and My Princess, is a brand-new bedroom recording.

Available as a free download 2-track single from Bandcamp HERE, Last.FM HERE and Soundcloud HERE.

And there's a video. We shot this using my old Gameboy camera.



Moustache of Insanity are on tour at the moment. You should come along to one of our shows!

25/07/11
The Old Blue Last (with Best Friends Forever & The Middle Ones)

26/07/11
The Castle, Manchester (with Very Truly Yours and Math & Physics Club)

27/07/11
Buffalo Lounge, Cardiff

28/07/11
Horse & Groom, Brighton

29/07/11-31/07/2011
Indietracks Festival, Derbyshire

19/08/11
The Red House, Sheffield

20/08/11
ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY at Librarians Wanted, London

21/08/11
Little Pad, London (In-store at 3pm)

More information on our website

Video of the day (Moustache of Insanity - Dancing With Emma)

We (Moustache of Insanity) are releasing our debut album in August and here's a little taster of what you can expect.



Moustache Of Insanity website

End Of The Road 2010

The summer festival season is now officially over, with the End Of The Road festival signalling…well, the end of the musical festival road…if you like. It was my third time at EOTR and as usual a great time was had. This year was slightly different from previous ones, though. Instead of going because of a great line-up, I was there mainly to support Allo Darlin' and my friends in Eagleowl. The majority of the line-up was just not my cup of tea at all. Of course there was exceptions, and I did see some great performances, but if it hadn't been for the friends-in-bands connection, I don't think I would have been there.

Sooooo…..highlights of End Of The Road 2010

Allo Darlin' played two sets and were great as usual. It must be a bit weird playing to a bunch of people who might not necessarily be there to see you, but rather are just there "to see what's on", but AD didn't let that bother them. And even if it did, it certainly didn't show and they played two great sets...one on Thursday evening and one on Friday afternoon. If I had to pick a favourite it would have to be the Thursday one, since they were followed by Darren Hayman and they all joined him on stage towards the end. That's what festivals are all about – bands you love getting together with other bands you love doing something unusual together.

Backstage with Allo Darlin'
Allo Darlin'
Darren Hayman playing to an adoring crowd
Eagleowl on Saturday afternoon were brilliant....an they finished their set with a big sing-a-long stage invasion (the calmest kind imaginable).

Eagleowl!
Eagleowl!!
Eagleowl!!!
Eagleowl!!!!
Last time I saw The Mountain Goats, I wasn't overly impressed. It was at an inside stage at EOTR 2008 and I just wasn't in the mood. This time it was different. Outside at the beautiful garden stage and it was just perfect.

Yo La Tengo played a stunning set and finished with a surprise version of Times New Viking's Move To California. Again, just perfect.


Apologies for the terrible video quality...eek.

Brakes were brilliant as usual...but it would have been even better if they had played on th eoutside stage. That big horrible tent thing just doesn't do anything for me.

Hot cider!

And....the food...yes, I do have a soft spot for festival food and seem to eat an awful lot of it...not necessarily this unusual dish...


...but Pieminister, cheesy-beany wedges and other goodies...

Members of Meursault, Eagleowl and Woodpigeon playing a cover of Withered Hand's I Am Nothing....complete with random old lady and baby stage invasion!


Moustache of Insanity even managed to squeeze in a short set at the Hunga Munga tent!


So there...that's all. I've had enough of camping for this year.

Some scandi-tour mobile pics

So, I spent last week on the road with Allo Darlin' and The Smittens. It was all very lovely and I'm a bit sad being back in cold and miserable London. It always takes some time adapting to "normal life" and I haven't quite settled into work and things yet. I took alot of photos, but haven't got round to developing them yet. Come to think of it, I haven't actually unpacked my bag yet. Anyway, this is a quick recap of the week consisting mainly of low-res pictures taken on my phone.

In Copenhagen, Bill Moustache found his new favorite poster.

Slutspurt! No you are! Really, this is most definitely only funny to a non-Danish-speaking person.

In Malmö we played in a cafe called På Besök (meaning 'on a visit' or 'visiting') and they had amazing artwork in their bathroom.

Awesome lamp!

They did not, however, have more than one mic stand, so Katie had to be like an indiepop MacGyver and save the day.

Mic stands are over-rated anyway.

Then we headed to Gothenburg....

...where Max Smitten joined Allo Darlin' on stage for duet duties on Dreaming...

...and The Smittens sported some unusual on-stage foot fashion. From left to right, that's shoes, socks and bare feet.

Eventually we made it to Stockholm, where Paul found some time for a quick snooze in a cafe.

Zzzzzzzzz

David Smitten

Eventually it was time for The Smittens to head back home and for the majority of Allo Darlin to drive to Amsterdam, leaving just me and Bill in Sweden. The final Moustache show was at infamous punk venue Gula Villan in Haninge, just outside Stockholm.

Gula Villan backyard.

I met up with an old friend I hadn't seen for around seven years. He showed me this tattoo of the first "proper" drawing his daughter ever made.

It's an owl!! Pretty much the best tattoo ever!

Me and Bill had to get back into Stockholm, so we had to leave early. We left just as Tiger Tape (formerly Moofish Catfish) hit the stage.

Completely awesome as usual!

Another fun summer in Sweden. It really is a lovely place.

Next Records Make Great Pets show!! 16th July!!

I'm putting on another show!!!!!

LET'S WHISPER (http://www.myspace.com/letswhispermusic)
Dana and Colin (from The Smittens) also play as Let's Whisper, one of the nicest, softest and sweetest bands around. They have a new EP coming out soon on WeePOP! Records and Camila has assured me that it will be ready for this show, so we're super happy to welcome them back to the Betsey Trotwood for their only (I think) London show this year. Expect plenty of smiling and bouncing.

PAGAN WANDERER LU (http://www.myspace.com/paganwandererlu)
Pagan Wanderer Lu is Andy. With his collection of exciting electronic gadgets he writes intelligent and catchy popsongs. Some people call it folktronica, I just call it awesome. He released his second album European Monsoon earlier this month on Brainlove Records and we're just mega excited to hear those songs live. Yay!

MOUSTACHE OF INSANITY (http://www.myspace.com/moustacheofinsanity)
The first London show since February, Moustache of Insanity play some sort of Casio-pop-bleep-boom mess about extremely important things like cheese, freckles, amazon wishlists and Jonathan Richman. Like Let's Whisper they have also released an EP (now sold out) on WeePOP! Records.

You should definitely come along. Indiepop disco with Scared To Dance and WeePOP! DJ'S afterwards as well!!! Yay!

On the road with Allo Darlin' (photo diary, part 2)

Here it is...part 2...apologies for the delay. Some camera issues.

Soooo…..after another night at Casa Skipping Stones we headed down south towards New Jersey. By now, the driving, touring and eating habits were lowering morale a tiny bit. We tried boosting it by getting some doughnuts, but when you're used to Krispy Kreme, Dunkin Donuts just isn't cutting it…proved here by this rare photo of Paul 'Thunder' Rains struggling to look excited, even with a doughnut in his hand.

Sadly, I didn't bring my camera for the Allo Darlin' show in New Brunswick. When I say "didn't bring" I really mean "I stupidly forgot" so there are no pictures from what was really a great evening.

Next up: WASHING DAY! Oh the excitement.

Round and round and round and round
On Friday it was time for another NJ show, this time in Jersey City, in an art gallery across the road from this rather impressive mural.


Allo Darlin' did their thing and it was all awesome. Go New Jersey!




Early rise againa nd off to Smittenland, or Burlington, Vermont if you like. The Satnav took us the scenic route, which involved.....

A BEAR...


...apple pie (and more doughnuts)...


...a ferry...and eventually...


We headed straight to one of several Smittens HQ's in Burlington, where an abundance of amazing food and booze was waiting for us. Yay!




The evening show in Winooski was loads of fun and, once again, Moustache managed to get through our songs.

Bill Moustache setting up

Moustache of Insanity

A Smile and a Ribbon

David Smitten kicking my ass at some arcade game

Allo Darlin'


The Smittens

In the morning we had pizza and Blood Mary's for breakfast...calling it flatbreads makes it feel alot healthier. Cheese and booze, cheese and booze, cheese and booze.


Then after alot of panicking about Canadian border crossing, we headed to Montreal....for more music....again

A Smile and a Ribbon

The Smittens

Allo Darlin'

Canada was nice....or the little of it we saw was nice. People looked exactly like they do in South Park The Movie....pretty much.

Then back to Vermont....for a final brunch....and then..

GOOD BYE....end of tour...


But not before we stocked up on SWEEEEEEEEEEEETS!!!!

Lemonheads!!

We also had a bit of an accident after a run-in with a dickhead in a pick-up truck....and even got to meet a real State Trooper!!!

He had a cool hat and everything!

Back in New York, we had a few hours to kill and went to Ghostbusters fire station.

If there's something strange in your neighbourhood...
I bet they get plenty of prank phone calls.

The rest of Allo Darlin' left town , leaving me and Elizabeth to be tourists for a few days.

We did Coney Island, which was smaller than expected but awesome.






After a few days of shopping and doing nothing, we felt ready for some live music again. Two awesome bands playing in a house. It was a perfect way to end our New York adventures.

Eskalators

...and Nana Grizol, an old personal favorite

Eskalators myspace

Nana Grizol myspace

That's about it, really. We had a horrendously long journey back to London and will never fly American Airlines again....mainly for pretty much forcing me to watch The Tooth Fairy, something I wouldn't do to my worst enemy. I'm still jet-lagged and just want to sleep all the time. But it was a lot of fun. Alot of fun. Apart from The Tooth Fairy. Awful, awful, awful film.

Big massive mega thanks to everyone who came to the shows and said nice things to us and who helped out, by feeding us and letting us crash in their houses etc. You know who you are. There are spare beds all across London waiting for you when you need them :)